Route 66 Understanding Judges and Ruth. Dr. Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor Bell Shoals Baptist Church March 9, 2016

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1 Route 66 Understanding Judges and Ruth Dr. Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor Bell Shoals Baptist Church March 9, 2016 Outline of Judges I. Israel s Compromise (Judges 1-2) II. Israel s Conquerors (Judges 3-16) III. Israel s Collapse (Judges 17-21) Outline of Ruth I. Famine (Ruth 1) II. Field (Ruth 2) III. Floor (Ruth 3) IV. Family (Ruth 4) The Downward Spiral of Spiritual Defeat Judges 2:10-16, 21:25 Judges 2:10 (ESV) And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that He had done for Israel. Judges 2:11 (ESV) And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. Judges 2:12 (ESV) And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger. Judges 2:13 (ESV) They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. Judges 2:14 (ESV) So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And He sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. Judges 2:15 (ESV) Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. Judges 2:16 (ESV) Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.

2 Judges 21:25 (ESV) In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Stage 1: Incomplete Obedience Judges 1:27 (ESV) Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. Judges 1:28 (ESV) When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. Judges 1:29 (ESV) And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. Judges 1:30 (ESV) Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but became subject to forced labor. Judges 1:31 (ESV) Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, Judges 1:32 (ESV) so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out. Judges 1:33 (ESV) Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor for them. Judges 1:34 (ESV) The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. Judges 1:35 (ESV) The Amorites persisted in dwelling in Mount Heres,in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, and they became subject to forced labor. Judges 1:36 (ESV) And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upward. Stage 2: Spiritual Amnesia

3 Judges 2:10 (ESV) And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that He had done for Israel. Stage 3: Adulterous Devotion Judges 2:11 (ESV) And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. Judges 2:12 (ESV) And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger. Judges 2:13 (ESV) They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. Stage 4: Unheeded Warnings Judges 2:14 (ESV) So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And He sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. Judges 2:15 (ESV) Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. Judges 2:16 (ESV) Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Judges 2:17 (ESV) Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. Stage 5: Wicked Independence Judges 21:25 (ESV) In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Ruth 1:16 (ESV) But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

4 Understanding Judges Meaning: Judges means "saviors" or "deliverers" Author: Unknown Audience: The People of Israel Date of Writing: BC Theme: a vicious cycle of rebellion, retribution, repentance, restoration, and then repeated rebellion. Key Verses: Judges 2:10-16, 21:25 Structure of Judges I. Israel's Compromise (Judges 1-2) A. The partial conquest of Canaan (1:1-2:9) B. The pressing need for judges (2:10-23) II. Israel's Conquerors (Judges 3-16) A. Othniel vs. Mesopotamians (3:7-11) B. Ehud and Shamgar vs. Moabites (3:12-31) C. Deborah vs. Canaanites (4:1-5:31) D. Gideon vs. Midianites (6:1-8:32) E. Tola and Jair vs. Abimilech's Effects (8:33-10:5) F. Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon vs. Philistines and Ammonites (10:6-12:15) G. Samson vs. Philistines (13:1-16:31) III. Israel's Collapse (Judges 17-21) A. The Danites and Idolatry (17-18) B. Civil War: Israel Against Benjamin (19-21) A Study in Contrasts Joshua Joy Heavenly in vision Victory Progress Faith Freedom Judges Sobs Earthly in emphasis Defeat Decline Unbelief Servitude

5 Judges and the Israelite Oppressors Judge Years Oppressor Reference in Judges Othniel 40 Mesopotamia 3:7-11 Ehud 80 Moab 3:12-30 Shamgar? Philistia 3:31 Deborah & Barak 40 Canaan 4:1-5:31 Gideon 40 Midian 6:1-8:28 Tola 23 Unknown 10:1-2 Jair 22 Unknown 10:3-5 Jephthah 6 Ammon 10:6-12:7 Ibzan 7 Unknown 12:8-10 Elon 10 Unknown 12:11-12 Abdon 8 Unknown 12:13-15 Samson 20 Philistia 13:1-16:31

6 Meaning: Ruth is named after its main character Author: Unknown Audience: The People of Israel Date of Writing: ca BC Understanding Ruth Theme: A love story. An illustration of the Kinsman-Redeemer we have in Jesus Christ. Key Verse: Ruth 1:16 Structure of Ruth I. Famine (Ruth 1) A. Misfortune in Moab (1:1-5) B. Friendship and faith in Moab (1:6-22) II. Field (Ruth 2) A. Boaz meets Ruth (2:1-13) B. Boaz cares for Ruth (2:14-23) III. Floor (Ruth 3) A. Ruth and Naomi's bold decision (3:1-7) B. Boaz's great kindness (3:8-18) IV. Family (Ruth 4) A. The relative's refusal to redeem (4:1-6) B. Boaz's choice to redeem (4:7-22) Purposes: 1. Historical: Bridge from Judges to Kings. 2. Dispensational: What the law excludes grace includes. 3. Genealogical: Points to the birth of Jesus. 4. Doctrinal: Paints a picture of redemption.

7 Focus Ruth s Love Demonstrated Ruth s Love Rewarded Reference 1:1 1:19 3:1 4:1; 4:22 Division Ruth's decision to stay with Naomi. Ruth's devotion to care for Naomi. Ruth's request for redemption by Boaz. Ruth's reward of redemption by Boaz. Topic Death of family Ruth and Naomi Ruth cares for Naomi Boaz cares for Ruth Ruth and Boaz Birth of family Location Moab Fields of Bethlehem Threshing floor of Bethlehem Bethlehem Time c. 12 years Jesus Christ in Ruth This book establishes the lineage of David, the ancestor of Christ. We see Ruth, a Moabitess, become the great-grandmother of David and therefore, an ancestor of Christ. We also see, Boaz, the son of Rahab the harlot, who was half Canaanite, become the great-grandfather of Christ. What a wonderful example of God's grace to accept Gentiles into Christ s earthly family, just as He accepts anyone who is willing to believe into His heavenly family. Another picture we see in Ruth is the illustration of the Kinsman-Redeemer. Just as Boaz was Ruth's Kinsman-Redeemer, Christ is to believers. He paid the price to redeem us and make us the bride of Christ.